UMPI Soccer Stars Travel to South Africa for World Cup

The World Cup kicked off today. In the opening match, Mexico and the host-nation South Africa played to a one-one draw. Tomorrow the United States play England in what many are calling best matchup of the group stage. Two of UMPI’s greatest soccer players, Dave and Kevin Hamel will be at the game tomorrow. I spoke to them before they left for South Africa about soccer and how the US may do this summer.David Hamel – UMPI Hall of Famer”To the people were going to meet from all over the world to the connections were going to make and hopefully the lifelong friendships: that is really what the World Cup is all about. It’s more than just soccer, it’s about the entire world coming together for 30 days.”Kevin Hamel – Attending 2010 World CupIt transcends borders and boundaries. If you get a bunch of players together, it doesn’t matter what their background, what their economic situation is, their demographic background. Give them a soccer ball and even if they haven’t payed a lot, they’ll learn to play together.”And how will the US do in South Africa?”They show up and they have a really good chance of moving to the round of 16 or the round of 8 but I can see them getting out of their bracket as long as they play well and play within themselves, they’ll make it out of pool play. Getting to the round of 16, getting to the round of 8 is going to be really challenging but I think they’ll do well.”And that match tomorrow between the USA and England kicks off at 2:30 from Rustenberg, South Africa.